Editorial Reviews

Like all great music, Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem contains a universal message that goes beyond the circumstances of the work's conception, which is beautifully communicated in this recording. Full of symphonic breadth and effectively responsible for confirming Brahms' status as a composer of international repute, it's a piece that deserves to be an essential part of any serious listener's library.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

Even though I owned an older version of this beautiful work, this particular recording now puts that one in the shade. The soprano in this version, Mari Anne Haggander has just the right sound for this work. Her voice seems to turn into a clarinet just at the right moment at the end of her solo, creating a seamless extension of great beauty and Brahms would have been proud if he could have heard it. The lady should be more well known to her audience. The Rundfunks orchestra and choir supply flawless accompaniment and also deserve mention. Great sounding recording too. Highly recommended to all Brahms enthusiasts. Bo Biffa

This 1985 recording with Herbert Kegel and the Leipzig Radio Symphony and Radio Choir deserves a special place among great performances of the Ein Deutsches Requiem. For its unique qualities, I consider it to be the greatest of them all.

The Requiem held special meaning for the accomplished and underappreciated Kegel. The Leipzig Radio Choir was his handpicked group that he led for three decades. There is indeed a special chemistry at work here.

There a purity and sensitivity to this performance, penetrating to the soul and to the heart of the work, the meaning behind every lyric emphasized. The orchestral touch and control are uncanny, the softest caresses and storms perfectly balanced. Transcendent, intense, deeply personal and intimate, the beauty is pristine, but at the same time very human and fragile, probing and unsettling. The interpretation comes from within, and speaks directly to you. The soloists are outstanding. Brahms composed his Requiem as a personal testament. Kegel's captures this, and the reading itself is a very personal testament.

There are dozens of worthy recordings of the German Requiem, but they are (including the famous renditions of Klemperer, Karajan, etc.) stiff, ponderous, formal processions compared to this stunning performance.

This recording has been issued more than once. First on the Cappriccio label, and this one more recently on Brilliant Classics in superior sound (strangely listed on Amazon under "German Requiem to the Words of the Holy Scripture", which, insultingly, will not be found by searching Herbert Kegel).